Decaying trees force immediate closures at two Snohomish County parks

Snohomish County Parks & Recreation announced closures on Wednesday at Paradise Valley Conservation Area and Southwest County Park due to decaying trees that pose safety risks to visitors.

Snohomish County Parks says forest health surveys identified advanced laminated root rot in Douglas-fir trees across a portion of Paradise Valley near Woodinville, while red alder trees throughout Southwest County Park in Edmonds have reached the end of their lifespan and risk falling.

Snohomish County Parks Director Sharon Walker says that public safety is guiding the county’s response.

“We understand these are beloved parks by the community, but the safety of our visitors is our top priority,” Walker said. “Our approach prioritizes visitor safety while working toward healthier, more diverse and resilient forests for future generations.”

Paradise Valley Conservation Area, a 793-acre park near Woodinville, will be fully closed to the public on Oct. 29 while crews build a trail reroute. A new trail connecting to the Wetland Plateau Trail in an unaffected portion of the park is scheduled to open on Oct. 30. Ahead of the winter storm season, county officials are closing the Cascara Trail, Whispering Firs, Mainline Trail, Lloyd Loop, and the Lloyd family barn and outbuildings.

The disease affects a 64-acre section of Paradise Valley. Snohomish County Parks is developing a forest health action plan to remove dying Douglas-fir trees and replace them with species such as hemlock and redcedar, which are not susceptible to laminated root rot.

In Edmonds, the 120-acre Southwest County Park is closed entirely until further notice. Most of the red alders in the park were established about 75 years ago and have reached the end of their natural lifespan. Because hazardous trees are spread throughout the property, officials cannot create safe alternative routes, requiring the entire park to stay closed while a forest mitigation plan is developed. Before reopening, the department must either remove the hazard trees or verify through monitoring that the alders have fallen.

• Follow this link to read additional stories from KIRO 7

Tree removal at Paradise Valley Conservation Area is tentatively expected in fall 2027, with county officials aiming to reopen the affected area in late winter 2028 following replanting. The schedule depends on funding, permitting, and planning.

No timeline has been established for reopening Southwest County Park.